I have had the wonderful opportunity of second shooting over the past couple of years. It has grown to be a role that I love. Experience through trial and error, as well as some guiding from other photographers has really helped me grow in confidence as I help on wedding days.
I plan on posting a short series of posts on the components of being a great supporting photographer, AKA second shooter. This first post is less practical tips and more of an overview of the role of a second shooter. When I first started helping people shoot weddings, I did not know much about photography, especially wedding photography. One of the biggest things I have found is that it is really important to know the proper etiquette of photography.

The second shooter role is a support role:
As photographers, we love getting "those" pictures! We see a shot and want to get it and can sometimes forget our role or what's going on around us. I am so guilty of that! On wedding days, I have to constantly remind myself of my role. That role is to make sure that I set up the main photographer with as many opportunities as possible to capture beautiful images. This often means setting my camera down and "zooming out" to the big picture.

What does "zooming out" look like?
Things to look for to help the main photographer capture beautiful images:

Dress fluffing 101 - Always check the bride's dress to make sure it looks picture-ready. This also can include bridesmaids' dresses.

2. The hair, makeup, and bouquet police - What can separate good from great images are the details! Hair gets blown in the wind, tears can cause makeup to run, and bouquets have a funny way of never being level. Keeping an eye on these details is so important because it means that the main photographer doesn't have to worry about them, and they can make a big difference in the quality of an image!

3. Keep an eye on the family - Wedding days can be very emotional days for more than just the bride and the groom. It's a big day for their loved ones also! I really like to be an advocate not only for the bride and groom on wedding days but also for the family. I always try to communicate with the bride and groom to make sure that I am aware of any possible tensions, and to make sure I know their preferences about bridal party placement, family photos and poses. Likewise, I try to keep an eye on the mother of the bride, maid/matron of honor and any other special guests to make sure they are feeling cared for and involved in the day. Sometimes tensions can be dispersed simply by observing family and creating opportunities for involvement.

4. Posing - Every couple thrives differently in photos. Some people are natural with posing themselves, but others need a little guidance. Learning the main photographer's posing style is very helpful, but also watching the couple interact for natural poses can help give ideas. As a second shooter, make it your goal to help the bride and groom, as well as bridal party, with poses. This is a huge time saver for the main photographer, allowing more opportunities for a variety of images!

5. Family pictures - Most likely the photographer you are assisting will have appointed someone in the family to call out family pictures or they will let you know that it is your role. It is very important that on the wedding day, you set down your camera and make sure that you are on top of calling out family members for photos, preparing the next shot for the photographer while the current one is being taken, and making sure that everyone the bride has indicated they want photographed is included. This is a big job, but your ability to effectively move through the list makes the whole experience flow better for the photographer, the bride and groom and their family. This is often an area where family can feel most loved on the wedding day, so it is important that you communicate care about their being included in the photos.

6. Watch the time - Wear a watch! Some photographers may not prefer this, but it is always good to have a time keeper. As you likely know, wedding days run on a schedule and as a photographer, we depend on it to make sure we capture as much as possible. It is great to keep the schedule in your back pocket, so you can periodically give the photographer and bridal party time-checks! Being the time keeper means being persistent and speaking up, but it tends to make the wedding day less stressful!

Being a second shooter is such an honor! The photographer who hired you is trusting you to help support their business! Remember that you are representing them and their business. Not only that, but you are helping capture a very important day in two people's lives.

I hope these reminders have been helpful. I look forward to writing the next blog on practical tips such as packing for the day as well as placing yourself strategically on the wedding day!

I was able to share a very special afternoon in Charleston a few weeks ago with my husband and our friends Jenna and Alex. Jenna has so graciously allowed me to be her second shooter in many weddings. For this particular wedding, we were photographing one of our mutual friends, Lauren Poleynard, in Charleston, SC. It was such an honor to be a part of Lauren and Sudeep's wedding day and I was elated to be able to have my husband with me in the beautiful city of Charleston! On top of it all, Jenna and I were able to swap anniversary photo sessions for one another and our husbands while we were down there.
Jenna and I have known each other for almost seven years! She was one of my bible study leaders my freshman year of college and quickly became not only a mentor but a friend. The Lord recently moved us close together again and has allowed me the privilege of helping her with many of her weddings. I can't begin to explain how much she has encouraged me in photography and challenged me to be confident in my work. It has meant so much to have her support and has absolutely made me a better photographer. Thank you for being such a faithful friend Jenna!

While the four of us were wandering around downtown Charleston and Jenna and I were trading off snapping anniversary pictures, I was praising the Lord for the opportunity to get to know Jenna and Alex as a couple! They are truly such a sweet couple that love the Lord in all that they do. As I have contemplated marriage over this first year, I have often reflected on the Lord's good work in pairing two people together. In this brief hour together, I was able to see glimpses of the Christ's love in Alex and Jenna's marriage in the way they interacted and cared for one another. What a joy to be able to see a marriage reflect the Gospel so clearly. Jenna and Alex, thank you for allowing me the privilege of taking your pictures; I hope you enjoy them!

Morgan and I became friends our freshman year at Clemson. We did SummerLINK Hilton Head together, a summer discipleship program with our church. That summer, we were inseparable; we lived in the same apartment, worked at the same job and she had the car that got us everywhere. What stood out to me most upon first meeting Morgan was her genuine kindness. She wears a constant, contagious smile and is always bubbling over with encouragement and joy. There are no words describe how dear this friend is to me and how much it delighted me to take pictures of her and Matt! Watching these two interact warmed my heart. Morgan and I spent many nights throughout college chatting about our future husbands, wondering who they would be, and how our relationships would look. Matt compliments Morgan so well. As I expected, they laugh a lot, enjoy the movie Nacho Libre and treat others with remarkable kindness.

Josh has been one of my friends since my junior year of college. He quickly became like a brother as we worked together at Crosspoint with the student ministry. Stefanie has always been one of those women that I wanted to get to know better. I would see her serving on Sunday mornings at church and she always greeted me with a genuine smile and "hello". I often thought after our interactions that she would be such a wonderful wife to a godly man. Watching their story unfold has been a delight. It was such a joy to take their engagement pictures this past weekend! I love the way that they look at each other and balance each other's personalities. I have no doubts that this couple will enjoy walking through life together and greatly display the gospel in their marriage! Below are a few of my favorite pictures from my time with them.